Vice President Mike Pence may come to Memphis Friday for NCAA game

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Not all eyes will be on the players this Friday as the University of North Carolina takes on Butler University during March Madness right here in the Bluff City. Some will be on the other famous face in the stands: Vice President Mike Pence.

"You learn very quickly the Secret Service does not compromise."

As soon as he heard the news, Ken Taylor with the Beale Street Merchants Association said his thoughts immediately shifted to security and what that could mean for visitors to downtown Memphis.

"It will be heightened traffic, so we definitely tell anybody, if you`re on your way downtown, you`re definitely going to want to add at least another 30 to 45 minutes to possibly even an hour to that commute," Taylor said.

Business owners shared similar concerns, even as they admitted that having the Vice President in downtown would be a huge draw for tourists and Memphians alike.

"More people are gonna now want to go to the game or want to go see him, and that`s just gonna keep people from my business," said one business owner.

Both the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office will be working with federal agencies to ensure security for the visit.

While Police Director Michael Rallings said it will be a challenge, he said it's not one his department isn't up for.

"It`s not our first time dealing with VIPs. President Obama came, other presidential candidates have visited. Vice presidents have visited."